Mask mandates starting to be discussed all over
By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on September 3, 2021.
https://www.medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews Medicine Hat is not the only municipality considering a return to local requirements for masking to stop a steep rise in coronavirus cases. Local officials will discuss the matter at their next meeting on Tuesday. In Lethbridge, the mayor is proposing the city require masks to be worn in all city owned-facilities until December 31. Edmonton city council voted 9-2 this week to require public mask use as of Sept. 3 in public buildings, including private businesses and city facilities. Strathcona County council, which represents Sherwood Park, debated the issue Thursday. Strathmore’s mask bylaw came back into effect last week as localized cases rose above a threshold laid out in the bylaw for requirements to be re-imposed. The province dropped mask mandates in most circumstances in July, and set all measures to expire in August, though that date extended to late September as cases rose. Masks are still required under provincial order on public transit, other buses and in taxis, as well in most healthcare settings. There is no set rule from the province for schools, other than busing, and school boards and colleges have set their own policies. Medicine Hat public schools and Medicine Hat College have made masks mandatory in common areas, but Medicine Hat Catholic schools and the regional Prairie Rose Public division do not require masks, stating they would be supportive Masks are also required in the Alberta court system, which has the autonomy to set its own operational rules. Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the City of Lethbridge council will debate reinstating a mask bylaw at the behest of retiring mayor Chris Spearman on Tuesday. This is not the case. The mayor is proposing the city require masks to be worn in all city owned-facilities until December 31. 14-13
